Dovel vs docker-mailserver
A side-by-side comparison of Dovel and docker-mailserver — pricing, license, deployment, and where each tool wins.
Dovel
dovel.email
SMTP server that sends and receives emails according to a simple configuration file, with an optional web interface that you can use to browse your emails.
docker-mailserver
docker-mailserver.github.io
Production-ready fullstack but simple mail server (SMTP, IMAP, LDAP, Antispam, Antivirus, etc.) running inside a container. Only configuration files, no SQL database.
| Feature | Dovel | docker-mailserver |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Model | Open-source | Open-source |
| License | CC-BY-SA-3.0 | CC-BY-SA-3.0 |
| Deployment | Self-hosted | Self-hosted |
| Category | Communication - Email - Complete Solutions | Communication - Email - Complete Solutions |
| Self-hosted | ✓Yes | ✓Yes |
| Free tier | ✓Yes | ✓Yes |
Pick Dovel if…
- ✓You prefer Dovel's feature set or ecosystem fit.
Pick docker-mailserver if…
- ✓You prefer docker-mailserver's feature set or ecosystem fit.
Switch from Dovel → docker-mailserver
16–60hhigh risk
Treat as a project — 16-60 engineering hours plus user training and parallel-run period.
Export from Dovel: mbox, IMAP
2 things to watch
- ⚠DNS / MX cutover window
- ⚠Spam reputation reset
Switch from docker-mailserver → Dovel
16–60hhigh risk
Treat as a project — 16-60 engineering hours plus user training and parallel-run period.
Export from docker-mailserver: mbox, IMAP
2 things to watch
- ⚠DNS / MX cutover window
- ⚠Spam reputation reset